Training Like Olympians: Remel Williams brings Olympic trials experience back to Piedmont

Piedmont was represented in Eugene, Oregon at the U.S. Track & Field Olympic Trials in June, and Remel Williams, an assistant track and field coach for the Lions, is bringing the knowledge she gained home to the Lions.

Williams recently completed her Level 3 certification in Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays through the USA Track & Field Professional Pathway program, the highest level of certification through USATF. Through that opportunity, she was encouraged to apply for the USATF National Championship Mentorship Grant, which afforded her the chance to shadow legendary coach Tonja Buford-Bailey at the U.S. Olympic Trials for Track & Field in June.

“I was allowed to follow around Tonja Buford-Bailey, Gabby Thomas' coach, for three days,” Williams said. “I got to interact with her athletes, follow them around, and ask her questions about her training. She was a great resource and said I could continue to contact her and keep in touch.”

Gabby Thomas went on to win three gold medals at the 2024 Olympics including the individual 200-meter. Despite the level of competition being some of the highest in the sport, Williams saw many correlations to the work she does daily with Piedmont's student-athletes.

“Even though these individuals are Olympians or trying to be Olympians, my student-athletes are doing the exact same workouts sometimes or having some of the same issues,” Williams said. “Now I have these resources, and I can call them and say ‘Hey, I'm having this same issue you talked about last year. How do I help my athletes succeed?'”

To qualify for the mentorship opportunity, a coach must have led student-athletes to a championship at their level, and during her time at Piedmont, Williams guided Anthony Jordan to a historic season in the long jump in 2022. Jordan earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship finishing third in the event and became Piedmont's first track & field athlete to earn NCAA All-American honors.

Williams enters her fifth season with the Lions in the fall of 2024 and is currently completing her doctoral program in education through Lincoln Memorial University.

For more about Piedmont's track and field teams, visit our athletics website.